Method for producing half-tone relief imbibition matrices



Aug. 3, 1943- V R. E. RICE 2,446,193.

METHOD FOR PRODUCING HALF-TONE RELIEF IMBIBITION MATRICES Filec. April 11, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet l COPYING OF COLOR ASPE OT THROUGH SCREEN FLASH/N6 THROUGH "sc/ee'E/v TRANSFER WITH OON TROL 6 DRYING WITH CONTROLLED .B P $3.4 S BLEEDING (IN/SHED PRINT ,frule rzz-or I Aug. 3, R E RICE METHOD FOR PRODUCING HALF-TONE RELIEF IMBIBITION MATRICES Filed April, 11', 1942 2- Sheets-Sheet 2 DENSITY DENSITY LOGV exposum: LOG EXPOSURE I LOG EXPOSURE I mag/$- Patented Aug. 3, 1948 METHQDTQR PRQDUCINGHflF TONE REHEFFIMBIBITION,MATRICES?;

i ha d 5 3 Ws iha Mess;a im t -JQ Corpora ti was o gporgtiop Application Aprii l l l942,".SerialNo; 438;632 I:

3 laims t 1 f i h s invention relates. to .theeartsofi reprodue ing ;orisiz1 a1 scenes, .fiat; .copy; L017; photographi-cu records withrnatriceswhieh:take;=up .dyeiefro solutions Mandi transfers gsuch dyenontos printing; blanks, I to matrices used; for such-transfer print ing and to. the reproductions .vmadezswithi suchz matrices; -A1th'0ughthe inventionsis::especialljrza usefuleint then-fields" of color.photographyyzitimays be used in other branches of the art. I

Therenareiwell known methods for preparing Q idecpmcesfij dqesenot read y r gelatin reliet matricestsreprodueing :the-v-rgrada' tionsyofiltheloriginal in terms ofiaccerdinglynvary' ing ;.thi.ckness .of the geiatinte which; covers-the: entire record iarea. One oft the; amostgz commonzn ways to prepare suchxmatriceseis: t0 1eXp0sea..a O

gelatin emulsiona, which isudyed nto .restrainae-peneewtrationof the expqsulierlight withinrtheaemnision to, hardenthe gelatin rcoextensivelycwith theaex posed .silverhalide portions, anct toztdissolyegeth unhardenedrgelatins. In order xto-zp ermit ithisedis solution, oreetch-ings ,thezimatrixr emulsionsisqusuep ally. exposed. tthroughrthe support;-.th,e 'liardene andginsoluble image remainingnon saidz suppnnt This; necessitates projection printing. \fonapreser vation, ,7 of the .finest definition.=; F017;; contac printing .zthe matrixremulsion :mayv be expose from the front; butzthismeeessitates transferring the image tontaanothen support; Apart fromsthew facts? that, emmsiontransfer is idimcult'zandi: ate

s 1 terocess: that; vexnos .r :til-rough:i1 ee d the ppqrtvr quiresproiectionmflntins smiths specia1::emu1siens larea requiredgin: gordento obta/inaiz someflegreerof; gradation-,;control;; theseqmethoglsx produce a matrix whichga rintsz densitiesxvaryingr: inversely. :with thoseeo t athe tori qu resmint nst e ms i z omnew n ia sc enistie es tothsr olumeqi met stil l ee es s 1i he w r isim s smd etwne or era ms front of an emulsion, and certain bleachingengl r i solutions ncqntainin z; vana ium-n uranium;;which;cang beilsed \tQtPrQvide; flat mat ricespfi selectively. hardenedn ela in $5vP$ .1 t-meable to acidudyes imthe elgiaroler porticms ThetIastementionedizprooesses are hargilyt prec tical foravariousrreasons such s chemigai instar it bilitysandecostlinesst of; the .sQlntione; ang pritt miimt bifltmfitheme. heaters h t se ecw. adat on @chsmct r sti r t es i the en he iizthe efer t 4 1v reliefs are determined by th;

of an orig nal-I without; r h emetri esfiw ot ros ec mat ie sin h ch th b h n one re s i mmski n interniediaries accepting layer a record consisting of dye dots of comparatively constant specific dye density, which dots may be combined with an overall record of varying dye densities.

These and other objects and aspects of the invention will appear from the following description of practical embodiments illustrating the character of the invention and referring to drawings in which:

Figs. 1 to 5 show photographic material in the consecutive stages of the process, some of the dimensions of Fig. 1 being exaggerated for the sake of legibility; these figures represent, together with the legend forming a flow sheet, the varioussteps. of the new method, and also the structures of the gelatin matrix and the final print in various stages of formation, some of which stages may be omitted;

Fig. 1a shows the approximate relation of the actual distances of the printing arrangement shown in Fig. 1; l

Figs. 6, 7 and 8 show log exposure-density diagrams illustrating the gradation control. possible, and gradation characteristics of the final print obtained with the new process; and

Fig. 9 illustrates in the manner of Fig. 1 an embodiment employing an intermediate record.

In Fig. 1 the'object field O to be reproduced is indicated by a wedge incorporating all exposure values from high lights at h through the intermediate densities z' to the deep shadows 8. The object field may be an actual scene, an object such as a painting, or a color transparency such as the above-mentioned color developed integral pack record, or a black and white color aspect record master positive; all these will herein be referred to as original.

The exposure takes place in a conventional camera or projection printer arrangement with a system. for supplying a uniformly distributed light flux I to the original 0; compare also Fig. 1a. A lens system L projects the record pattern of the original towards a screen S placed before the printing emulsion G. This'soreen separates the light flux into elementary beams of varying intensity determined by the shadow portions of each beam, and representing a second pattern,

herein referred to as reproduction pattern.

If the original is colored, the spectral range of the printing light corresponds to the color aspect which is to be reproduced; for printing the blue aspect, in yellow dye of a 'subtractive integral pack record, blue light is used; for printing the green aspect in magenta dye, green light is used; and for printing the red aspect in cyan dye, red light is used. f v

The screen S may consist of opaque dots in a transparent field representing an irregular or regular reproduction pattern. In the present instance, circular dots form a regular pattern, the centers of the dots lying in lines perpendicular to each other and equally spaced. The spacing and diameter of the dots may vary depending on the photographic gradation desired, but a typi-' cal size and spacing would be diameters of .0025

inch, and distances between centers of .0067 inch.

In Fig. 1, t represents a transparent area, and it an opaque area, as seen at asection through the screen taken along the centers of a. line of dots.

Although the screen is herein spoken of as made up of regularly spaced opaque or transparent dots, it is understood that other forms of screens employing the same general principles could be used; for'instance, the opaqu or "transparent areas might be regularly spaced minute 4 bands, or they might be irregularly scattered or irregularly shaped.

If colored printing light is to be used, a panchromatic emulsion of high contrast and relatively low light restraining properties is suitable. Such a film is that known by the trade name Agfa Reprolith Panchromatic. For the above screen with dots per lineal inch, the distance from lens to screen may be approximately 12 inches, with the screen about .015 inch in front of the emulsion of about .0005 inch thickness. These dimensions will, of course, vary with varying sizes of the original and requirements for the final print, but they were found satisfactory for average conditions.

In the emulsion G on support C of Fig. 1, the zones at which the exposure controlled by the original 0 just attains the threshold value for the process are indicated at l Ih, I It and I Is. The gradations of the image will be seen to be expressed by two means. The first is the change in diameter of the gelatin columns in which the layer G, the regions lh, Ii and Is, are circular in' shape, and are regions of very low, but nearly uniform light intensity, since they lie inside the umbral region behind the circular opaque dots, u,

of the screen S, and since they represent areas receiving very little diffracted light. (The shadow phenomena are in fact heavily influenced by diffraction and also by light scattered in the emulsion but since the phenomena are similar. in quality to what would be reproduced by the .umbra and penumbra effects of a shadow, this terminology is used for the sake of simplicity.)

Theregions 2h, 21' and Zsare in the shape of annular rings, 'and represent the areas where the light intensity varies, due to the penumbral shadow effect and due to diffraction, between the low values of 171., ii and Is and the high values of the regions 3h, 31; and 3s, which latter represent all the rest of the surface area of the emulsion G, and which receive the full intensity of the light I, reduced only in proportion to the opacity of the original '0. It will be understood that the light intensities in the dark regions In, Ii and Is are very nearly equal, but that the light intensities in the'bri-ght areas 3h, 31' and 3s vary according to the light flux transmitted by the original. Thus, the intensity at 3s corresponds to-the light intensity at some point in the region 2i, and the intensity at 3i corresponds to the light intensity at some point in the region 2h.

Considering now the light intensities within theemulsion layer G, of Fig. 1, as the light penetrates the emulsion it is absorbed somewhat by the opacity of the silver salts within the gelatin.

It should be noted in this connection that this support.- In the highlight region 3h, the light intensity is above the threshold value all the Way through'the emulsion layer. In th intermedi- Ltone reg i-on fi; the light intensity m'ay "-be red d,--"due' to absorptioni and scatter; to the thr sholdi'value near the support-assh'own by 'H i. the shadow region '38,: the intensity may fall tea threshold valuenearer the surfacetas shown by I I s. In the region 2h, 2i and Zs, the'threshold iwill 'islopezsteeply upward from the -support, the slope being determined by the combined effects of ithei iight absorbing and light scattering propz erties o'f the emulsion.

Irt-" addition to the exposure controlled-lily the wriginal i O, -a uniform exposure throughflth'e =.screensE, known as a fiash exposure,:rnay b'elgiven rorither urpose of controllin the amount of finterstitialgelatin tobe retainedon the matrix i i'ri iche regions 32' and 38 after the subsequent dev elopihgfiandi etching operations" .to be described ib'elow; magnitude of the fiash exposure is such tk-rat it is very: small compared to the -:ex- 'posm-eontrolled bythe .original O in t'hehigh lighteareaa and does not change the threshold l lhl by' erceptible'amount. In the intermediate areas; however, it may change the threshold it aipositi'on such 'asz li. :In the shadow regions, theiifiashxexposure is greater relative to the ex- -:posure'.:contro11ediby the original 0, and 'thus the threshold value becomes changed to a greater; extent than in theintermediate :densitiea zand rmig htrtake'th'e"positionishown at at s. i

The magnitude of the flash exposure together 'with -theitrdimension of thezlight source relative 'tofthat :used for the exposure controlled by the original Q, may be used to control the contrast rotzthesintermediate and shadow regions without appreciably changing .the highlight regions. a ReferringitovFig. .6, the curve [may represent the tiensity plotted" against log. exposure Iv curve: ob- --tained upon making an imbibition' transfer from taa'smatrixi'having'had no flash exposure, while curves 2, 3. ialldilshowithe effect 1. of ifl'aslr expo "sures of increasing magnitudes, respectively.

The flashing control is especially valuableibedeveloperand the longerthe development time,

vt-heless interstitial gelatinxwill be obtained. Unideriaverageconditions; development for two minutes withia developer known under the trademark Kodalith is suitable.

After i development and washing, ithe vfilm is etched in' aperoxide' bath, for: example of. the

'followingicomposition ".xi'rhisifsolution'ioxidizes= the 'd'eveloped iivetanu decomposes and dissolves the gelatinronly -coex- The development-1 as i 'tensi velywithiithesilver particles ,l ileavin'gronthe support the gelatin below the tnresholdilinesiindi'cated by. TH h," Zlt and 21 s, in' Fig: 1.

flihe nnatrix .thus obtained consists ofsgelatin columns fl 5 alof varying diameter attached. to the support, withior without interstitial gelatin it of yaryin'giheight; both columns. and interstitial gel- Tatinnbeingsuitable to take up colorin matter 'by sorption. "Such. anratrix' is shown. in Fig. .2 whichashows high light, intermediate 'andishadow density portions corresponding to Fig. 1.

"The :matrix .mayirthen "be soaked in a com/en :tional'uaciddye solution suitable for inibibition transferni whose spectral characteristic corresponds itoi'the col'or aspect'which th imatrix represents; tor-example in yellow dyewfor the aspect takenrrthroughithe? bluer nlter. It is thereafter, within: azib'ath herein freferredito as transfer liquor; icontaicted .under pressure with a blanks film PatFigliBifi'ihtQ whose gelatin 'emulsion: B the y transfersifromithe matrix. Especially ifPintei-sti- 'stialsgela'tin is r-present, :this transfer vwill depend azzg'ood r'deal upon the l1 chemistryof the transfer liquor; as :in-dicated in Fig. 3, the dye will not onlytransfer-directly'(at 5) from matrix column into blanko butzals'o' to i a greater or lesser de- 'ggree (atrfi throughvthe iliquor'between blank and interstitial relief,because as shown in Fig: 3 .the .sinterstitial -gelatin of the matrix. does not come :in direct contact'viirith the blank. IIfVth'e :liquor ismore alkaline, it takes up :transports dyezto' the bl'ank, whereas an acidic liquor causes the dye. to remain in the matrix gelatin, .except at the areas of direct contact. Therefore; the interstitial W gelatin: will affect the final: print:Ionly1if.=at:mcre orless allzaline transfer liquor-l iszused; it can .be'practically suppressed if the liquor is acidic. A transfer liquor ofinter i'mediatec-pHivalue is obtained by dissolving about 5:0 :3 grains of iborax per gallon ofuclistilled water;

iadyed .up matrixphthe'ty'pe described will transfer rinisuch a' liquor an amount of interstitial' dye which .is desirable for normal-prints.

The *print is .theni dried, the drying step being preferably us'edrias expl'ained below, .for further density control of the print.

ill-he transfer: dyes bleed Within the bIank emul .sionzto iauvaryingbut; always minute degree, which :dependsiuponftheinatureof the dye itself, upon the drying time; and upon i the nature of the blank ic'oating. :The bleeding herein referred toshouid not be confused-with the undesirable bleeding of the conventional dye .transfer'print, which bleed ingwiswgreaterin extent,- and so impairs definition and may causevcolorifringes. In aprintofthe naturer herein described, the 1 definition depencls 'l'arg'elyupon the 'dot spacing. The bleeding here- .in' referred-to :is 'kept less i in-zextent than the clot spacing andmso'cafiects' merely the interstitial areas randocan be llSelllWithOllt loss oi?=deffinition toicontrol-thecontrastcharacteristic.

As far as the bleeding characteristics of zthe E dyes :thems'elves are concerned, :various dyes r and "dye mixturesiof suitable propertieszin this respect are obtain-able. *As regards the bla'nk coating, hardening :and mordanting "the ge1atinwith I aluminum compounds renders it "resistant tot t'o rapid bleeding of aciddyes.

' The drying" time affects the bleeding" to, a: considerable degree;-.a: print. in 1a properly selected dye i'whichlisi quickly dried, for example under a heat radiator, rmay 'sh'ow practically no bleeding, rwhereas printsicanzbeidried so slowly tl'iatthesdots disappear. almost' entirely. Imhei abovee'described -transferzi liquor icontrolnnay; oflcourse; be use'di in addition to this technique Of modifying the stitial dye record.

Figs. 4 and 5 show the efiect of this dryingtime control. Fig. 4 represents a section through the blank along the centers of a line of dots. Fig. 5 represents a plan view of the blank. Since all the gelatin columns of the matrix regardless of diameter contain dye of similar concentration, the areas indicated by l5, representing dye transferred by direct contact, also contain dye of similar concentration, regardless of diameter. These direct transfer regions will contribute to the picture gradations according to the ratio of their areas to the areas of the space betweenthem. This picture gradation may be modified, as stated above, by controlled bleeding of this dye, in which case, the dots IE, will be surrounded by zones, indicated at l6, of dye decreasing radially in concentration. Superimposed on this picture gradation may be the second component of picture gradation resulting from the dye imbibed through the transfer liquor from the interstitial matrix gelatin, as indicated at 6 of Fig. 3. This is illustrated at H, Figs. 4 and 5. This dye is effective mainly in the shadow portions, but may extend into the intermediate portions to whatever extent is desired, since it is independently controlled by the flash exposure as previously described;

The reproduction can be further controlled by selecting certain screen characteristics, as element size and ratio of opaque to transparent areas, by varying for a given screen the aperture which projects the image toward the screen, and by changing the distances between lens and screen and screen and emulsion. These expedients permit variations in the shape of the char acteristic g exposure-density relationof the reproduction.

Referring especially to the above-mentioned control by varying the relative extent of opaque and transparent screen areas, larger opaque screen dots require a longer or more intense exposure controlled by the original 0 in order to produce gelatin columns of the proper size on'the matrix. A more intense exposure produces more scatter light originating in 3h, Fig. 1, and also in the brighter parts of region 2h. This scatter light changes the positions of the thresholds l lh, H2 and Us, in the direction which decreases the diameters of the gelatin columns. However, being greatest in magnitude in the high light regions, the position of the threshold 1 lh undergoes a greater change than Hz or Ms, thus producing a change in the shape of the density-log exposure relation. This is indicated in Fig. '7 where curve a indicates the gradation which can be obtained by the use of a screen whose opaque areas are small relative to its transparent areas, and curves b and 0 represent the gradation which intercan be obtained by using screens whose opaque.

areas are larger, relative to their transparent areas.

With the above-described control by means of the screen characteristics, the contrast in the high light region can be controlled; the flash exposure permits control of the intermediate and shadow regions, and the dye transfer and bleeding controls permit changes of the same nature; it will, therefore, be evident that the new process provides a wide range of strictly controllable contrast variations. Fig. 8 reproduces H and D characteristics of final prints. actually obtained and indicates that the gradation in the lower densities can be made practically straight whichis desirable for this region in order to secure proper detail, whereas'the higher densities can be repro-- duced with upwardly curving characteristics in order to obtain strong shadows, with any desirable amount of detail. It is possible to combine any gradation configuration of Fig 6 with any configuration of Fig. 7. 5

As pointed out above, the matrix according. to the present invention greatly minimizes the detrimental efiects of uneveness in the emulsion coating. In the high light regions where. evenness is most vital, the density gradations of the matrix and transfer therefrom depend only upon the lateral extension of the gelatin columns and are independent of unevenness of emulsion coating.

In the intermediate density regions, where the amount of interstitial gelatin is small, the density gradations vary with emulsion thickness only to the very slight extent to which interstitial gelatin is present. In the shadow regions, unevennessis much less important. Here, in a practical application, the interstitial gelatin might .beresponsible for 25-50% of the picture density. :.It is therefore only to this fractional extent that the density depends on the evenness of: the original emulsion coating. Practice has shown anyesuch unevenness to be unimportant in theseihigh densities. i

It should further be noted that the present invention provides for improved reproduction of the shadow regions, for the following reason. -'In the known photomechanical processes upon passing from lighter to very high densities, the dark dots become larger, and before the highest densities are reached, this enlargement causes these dots to coalesce into a connected network, the groundbetween them shrinking instead into separated dots. This same phenomenon also tends to occurinthe present process, but generally to a much lesser extent, since the interstitial density produces the high-density contrast which prior photomechanical processes attain only by coalescense of the dark dots.

On the other hand it was found that the process according to the present invention is suitedto provide a certain, preferably very slightamount of interstitial color even between the smallest dots in the regions of densities next to the brightest high lights without any dots. This condition appears to bebeneficial especially regarding-the visual effect of a final color print combinedfrom several matrices representing difierent color aspects.

trol possible with this process, and because of the simplicity and economy of the operations involved, it might be desirable in certain cases=to make matrices reproducing the density gradations of an original scene through the-medium of intermediaries such as, for example, separation negatives made in a one-shot camera. In this case, the original N, Fig. 9, represents a negative of the original scene. The matrix mustjnow be made to reproduce the gradations of I l',.Fig-.'-9, inversely.

To accomplish this, the screen described above may be replaced by one which, in relation to the above-described screen, might be termed a negative screen; that is, it may consist of transparent areas in an opaque field; After exposure through such a screen and development; :thesilver image is dissolved out, the remaining silver salts exposed and developed, and the gelatinccoextensive with the final silver image dissolved away by means of the above-described peroxide etching bath. a

The following describes, with reference to Fig. 9, a practical example of this phase of the invention. In this figure the negative of original N may be one color aspect of a scene as represented by a separation negative, or by one component of a negative color-developed integral pack record. The screen S may consist of a regular pattern of circular transparent dots t in the opaque field u. The spacing and diameter of the dots may vary, but dimensions which have been found satisfactory are, diameters of .0025 inch, and distances between centers of .0067 inch. A suitable film is Agfa Reprolith Panchromatic. The film is placed preferably with its support side facing the screen. This distance between screen and emulsion may be .015 inch. The exposure is the same as in the example given above, except that a flash exposure is seldom necessary.

The light patterns which are produced in this case are similar to those described above with reference to Fig. 1, except that they are reversed. Referring to Fig. 9, the light pencils projected onto the film emulsion G by the transparent apertures i of the screen give rise to regions 3h, 32 and 38 receiving full light intensity except for the absorption by the negative N; the regions 2h, 21' and 2s, of varying light intensity; and the regions lh, Ii and Is, of very low light intensity. As stated above, these conditions result from the combined influences of diffraction, umbral and penumbral shadows, and light scatter by the silver salts in the emulsion.

The film may be developed 2 minutes at 70 F. in a very contrasty developer such as that known by the trade name Kodalith," which produces silver within the regions bounded by Mn, i ii and lls, Fig. 9. After Washing the gelatin substantially free from developer, the silver may be dissolved by bathing the film in a permanganate solution having for example the composition:

KMI104 grams 1 H3PO4 cubic centimeters 2 Water do 100 The film may be cleared in a 2% solution of NaI-ISOs, followed by washing, exposure to intense light, and redevelopment in Kodalith developer until all the remaining silver salt is developed. After washing, and upon etching in peroxide in the manner described above, the gelatin coextensive with the developed silver dissolves away, leaving the regions bounded by llh, I I2 and Us upon the support. The relief thus produced consists of gelatin columns varying in diameter inversely with the gradations of the negative N.

The making of prints from this relief may be like that of the above-described direct matrices, and the control over print gradation by means of dye bleeding after imbibition, and by transfer liquor may be utilized.

A further control over the shadow gradations may be secured by varying the screen characteristics, and the light scattering and light absorbing properties of the film. The slope of the density-log exposure curve may be increased, for example, by increasing the distance between the screen and film, or by increasing the number of screen dots, per unit area. An increase in slope 10 may also be obtained by decreasing the light-absorbing properties of the film.

It should be understood that the present disclosure is for the purpose of illustration only and that this invention includes all modifications and equivalents which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In the art of photographic reproduction the method of controlling the contrast characteristic of matrices for use in making prints by dye imbibition, which method consists essentially in exposing through a half tone screen a silver halide matrix emulsion to an object field, said screen and said field together defining light beams of varying intensity distributed in a pattern of elementary areas which pattern is determined by the screen whereas the varying intensity of the beams is determined by the object field, said emulsion having sufficient thickness so that the beams will expose the emulsion through its entire thickness in the regions of highest exposure and through only part of its thickness in the regions of lowest exposure; exposing said areas of said matrix emulsion through a half tone screen defining said pattern, to a substantially uniform object field to such an extent as to vary depth and area of said first exposure at least in the regions of lowest exposure; and etching said matrix emulsion by substantially removing in said areas: said exposed emulsion portions, thereby to form interstitial depressions distributed in said screen pattern and having depth determined by said exposures of said matrix emulsion.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the matrix is etched in a bath containing hydrogen peroxide.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein said object field is a photographically positive transparency, the matrix likewise representing a positive.

RICHARD E. RICE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS OTHER REFERENCES British Journal of Photography, March 22, 1940, Pp. and 136. 

